Jude 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Now we come to the second camp of people. In verse 22 we are instructed to have compassion on some, showing a distinction; that distinction being that there are those honestly doubting who just need loving, prayerful support to help them in time of need. Then there is another camp who needs to be saved with fear.
Jude 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
The NASB renders this verse, “And have mercy on some, who are doubting.” The NIV says, “Be merciful to those who doubt.” It is not a sin to doubt. All Christians suffer doubt in some area of our faith and our lives. The church is to be ready to offer support, edification and compassion to those who doubt. To doubt is not to apostatize. Doubt can come from a seemingly infinite number of sources; but here, in this context, the doubt within Christ’s church may arise from the Satanic, worldly doctrines the false teachers promote.
Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude appeals to Christians to remain in God’s love; we are to abide in Christ, and by doing so, He will abide in us, John 15:4. The idea is to remain steadfast in God’s love. But what does this mean?
Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude diverts the reader’s attention from the false teachers that have thus far been the object of his epistle to themselves. Jude tells his fellow Christians to build themselves up on their faith. The idea here implies that we are, as God’s saints, to build upon the foundation of our faith, which is Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:11.
